One dead after TTC bus crashes on Lawrence Avenue

One person is dead after a TTC bus crashed into a crane on Lawrence Avenue just east of the Don Valley Parkway. At least 11 people have been injured.

While police are still trying to determine what happened, it appears the bus may have hit a hydraulic crane mounted on a westbound Amherst truck from behind. The front right side of the bus is crushed and collapsed, while the back left wheel of the crane is mangled.

“It looks like the TTC bus may have been in the process of changing lanes when the collision occurred, forcing the truck forward to the embankment,” said Constable Hugh Smith of Toronto Police traffic services.

The collision killed a 43-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, pending notification of next of kin. Nine passengers were taken to hospital, six of them with serious injuries. Police said it is not clear how many passengers were on the bus at the time of the crash or where the deceased was sitting.

Those hurt suffered what “looked like” superficial injuries, according to one EMS worker, who said the hospital would be able to check for internal damage or broken bones. The people who were being treated on scene have been transferred to hospital.

The driver of the TTC bus was uninjured. He is currently being interviewed by police.

The Traffic Services Reconstruction Team was on site late afternoon and Const. Smith said he expected both directions on this stretch of Lawrence Ave. to be closed at least until the evening.

In its investigation, Traffic Services will look into the speeds of both vehicles as well as other factors, such as the light, for clues as to what went wrong. Const. Smith said both the bus and truck will undergo mechanical investigations to check whether all equipment was in good working condition.

A woman named Janice says her adult daughter was on the bus. “I understand she was traveling with children. I don’t know if she’s OK. I am praying.”

Debris remains strewn along Lawrence Avenue, and both the crane and TTC bus are still lying broken on the road. A roll of transfers and a TTC glove are lying on the road on the inside of yellow caution tape, which is cordoning off a large area. Inside the tape, police and TTC have begun conducting their investigation.

The crane appears to have crashed through the guardrails of the on-ramp to the northbound DVP.

The residents of a nearby apartment building have emerged on their balconies to see the scene below.

The 54 Lawrence East bus is on diversion and Lawrence Avenue is closed from Victoria Park to Don Mills for the investigation.